eurekapd Chapter 564 I envy her authentic life!
Chapter 564 I envy her authentic life!
When Princess Yong saw Old Madam Zhao speak, her expression softened slightly, but her gaze toward Chu Ruohan and her daughter remained unfriendly.
She sneered, "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is quite arrogant, even the old lady of the Zhao family is speaking up for you. Very well, today, for the sake of the old lady, this princess will not hold it against you."
She paused, then turned her gaze to Zhao Qingzhi, her tone softening considerably: "Qingzhi, come here and keep this princess company. Don't let these irrelevant people spoil our fun."
These words undoubtedly treat Chu Ruohan and her daughter as "unrelated people," deliberately ignoring them.
A hint of smugness flashed in Zhao Qingzhi's eyes as she obediently replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
She walked to Princess Yong's side, serving her food with great care, chatting and laughing as if the tense atmosphere from just moments ago had nothing to do with her.
Chu Ruohan didn't care about the cold treatment from Princess Yong. She took Gu Qingchen's hand and nodded slightly to Old Madam Zhao and Zhao Qinghan.
"Thank you so much for helping me out of that predicament, Madam. I'm sorry to have bothered you today."
She then looked at Zhao Qinghan, her gaze gentle: "This young lady, thank you for taking care of my daughter earlier."
Zhao Qinghan raised her head, met Chu Ruohan's gaze, and gently shook her head, her voice soft yet clear: "Madam, you're too kind. It was nothing at all."
Her gaze was clear, without a trace of flattery or fear.
Chu Ruohan's impression of Zhao Qinghan improved even more.
Without saying another word, she led Gu Qingchen and turned to leave the dining hall.
Before leaving, Gu Qingchen turned back and made a small face at Princess Yong and Zhao Qingzhi, which Chu Ruohan quickly pressed down.
Chu Ruohan breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the dining hall.
"Mommy, that old hag is so fierce!" Gu Qingchen complained softly, wrinkling her little nose.
Chu Ruohan tapped her forehead: "You, you mustn't speak so disrespectfully in the future. After all, the Princess Consort of Yong is an elder."
"But she insulted me first!" Gu Qingchen pouted, unconvinced.
“If she insults you, you can ignore her or reason with her,” Chu Ruohan patiently instructed. “Responding with equally vicious words will only make us seem as ill-mannered as she is.”
Gu Qingchen nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Chu Ruohan thought of Zhao Qinghan again, her heart stirred slightly, and she asked softly, "Qingchen, what do you think of that Second Miss Zhao from earlier?"
Gu Qingchen tilted his little face up, thought about it seriously for a moment, and then spoke in his childish voice.
"That lady is very nice!"
Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were trying to find the right words. "She smelled nice, not like the overpowering smell of spices, but like the sweet scent of osmanthus cake."
As she spoke, she took a deep sniff, as if savoring the moment.
"And she has a beautiful smile, with her eyes curving like crescent moons. Unlike her older sister, whose smile looks like she's glaring at people."
Children's words are innocent and uninhibited, yet they often hit the nail on the head.
Hearing her daughter's straightforward and vivid evaluation, Chu Ruohan's last trace of doubt vanished.
She reached out and gently patted Gu Qingchen's head, a genuine smile appearing on her lips.
"Qingchen's judgment is indeed the best."
She had already made up her mind.
Chenyu's sweetheart is such a kind and virtuous girl, and as her older sister, she is determined to help him make this wonderful thing happen.
The mother and daughter chatted and laughed as their figures gradually disappeared at the end of the temple's cobblestone path.
Inside the dining hall, however, the atmosphere remained so cold that it seemed as if frost could freeze over.
Once Chu Ruohan and her daughter left, Princess Yong could no longer maintain her carefully constructed facade of dignity.
She slammed her hand on the table, her face contorted with rage: "Outrageous! How dare a mere young girl be so presumptuous in front of me, the Princess Consort! The upbringing of the Duke of Zhenguo's family truly lives up to its reputation!"
Upon seeing this, Zhao Qingzhi immediately stepped forward, extended her soft hand, and gently patted Princess Yong's back to help her catch her breath.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Why get angry with a child? It will only harm your precious health..."
Her voice was so gentle it could melt water, and every word she spoke touched the heart of Princess Yong.
“That makes sense,” she said, changing the subject with a seemingly casual but actually pointed sigh. “The Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion is currently enjoying the Emperor’s favor, so it’s only natural that the children are a bit spoiled. We ordinary families can’t compare to that.”
These words not only elevated Princess Yong, but also subtly denigrated the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion as abusing its power, while also conveniently portraying the family as pitiful.
Princess Yong was indeed pleased; her expression softened considerably. She took Zhao Qingzhi's hand and patted it, her eyes showing genuine approval.
"You're such a thoughtful and sensible child."
The old lady Zhao, who was standing to the side, kept her eyes down the whole time, as if she were in a trance, and seemed oblivious to everything that was happening before her.
However, she twirled the Buddhist prayer beads on her lap a little faster.
Zhao Qinghan sat quietly in her seat, her gaze fixed on the almost untouched plate of delicate pastries in front of her, her long eyelashes drooping down, concealing all her emotions.
The room filled with the scent of sandalwood seemed unable to suppress the suffocating hypocrisy and sycophancy.
On the return journey, with no outsiders around, the atmosphere became increasingly somber.
Old Madam Zhao finally opened her eyes. She didn't look at Zhao Qingzhi, but her gaze seemed to penetrate the carriage wall, looking into an unknown distance.
"Qingzhi, you handled things very well in front of the Princess today." Her voice was flat and emotionless, revealing neither praise nor criticism.
Zhao Qingzhi was overjoyed and quickly moved closer, her face showing just the right amount of filial affection.
"My granddaughter just feels sorry for the Princess Consort and can't bear to see her suffer such humiliation."
"Oh?" Old Madam Zhao finally turned her head, her cloudy but shrewd eyes fixed on her. "Are you worried about the Princess, or about your own future that is yet to be secured?"
This question was like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.
Zhao Qingzhi's smile froze instantly, all color draining from her face. "Grandmother... your granddaughter didn't..."
"Whether it's true or not, you know it in your heart, and I can see it clearly too." Old Madam Zhao interrupted her explanation, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Climbing the social ladder is a shortcut, but it is also the most dangerous single-plank bridge. Do you really not see through the nature of Princess Yong? Today she may favor you with a kind word from you, but tomorrow she may discard you like trash for a kind word from someone else."
The old matriarch sighed, her tone heavy: "Our Zhao family is a scholarly family, relying on upright conduct and honest deeds, not on these sycophantic and underhanded means!"
These words made Zhao Qingzhi blush and lower her head, not daring to utter a single word in rebuttal.
Old Madam Zhao's gaze slowly shifted to her second granddaughter, who had remained silent throughout.
"Qinghan," her voice softened, "you haven't said a word all day, what are you thinking about?"
Zhao Qinghan raised her head, her clear, watery eyes shining brightly in the dimly lit carriage.
She was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "I was thinking that Miss Gu, although her words were a bit sharp, never mentioned her mother."
“If others bully her mother, she will retaliate tenfold.”
She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, a hint of longing flashing in her eyes.
"My granddaughter feels that she lives a very... authentic life."
"Unlike us, we have to think things through before we say anything, considering whether we'll offend anyone or whether we'll gain anything."
These words stunned both Old Madam Zhao and Zhao Qingzhi.
Old Madam Zhao stared at her blankly for a long time before letting out a long sigh, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
She stretched out her withered hand and gently placed it on the back of Zhao Qinghan's hand.
"You silly child..."
Zhao Qingzhi sat opposite her, listening to her grandmother's pitying sighs for her younger sister, which she found extremely grating.
With her head bowed and her eyes downcast, her hands, hidden in the wide sleeves of her robe, were tightly gripping the handkerchief.
Why?
Why should she go to such lengths to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, only to be taught a lesson in return?
Zhao Qinghan did nothing but say a few inappropriate sarcastic remarks, yet she gained her grandmother's favor.
reality?
In this capital city, honesty is the most useless thing! Survival, and living better than others, is the only principle!